Equipping Graduates For Health Care Delivery
37 students taking Diplomas in Nursing and Midwifery graduated from the Maridi School of Nursing and Midwifery (MSNW) in Maridi County, South Sudan on 1 September 2018. The graduates (21 female and 16 male) have successfully completed the 3-year courses.
Maridi State Governor Hon. Africano Mande, alongside other State officials attended the graduation. Country Director of Action Africa Help International’s (AAH-I) South Sudan programme Stephen Lukudu and AAH-I South Sudan Board Chair Leonard Logo were also present.
“Today marks the first graduation ever commemorated at MSNW since its inception in 1992. We have stayed true to the course to ensure that we continue to support the government of South Sudan in adding the skill force in healthcare. Congratulations to all graduands on their remarkable achievement” said Stephen Lukudu. “The MSNW faculty was established to increase health human resource and therefore improve access to, use of and quality of health care services in South Sudan. I have no doubt that all graduates will fulfill this goal with dedication and professionalism”.
AAH-I South Sudan Country Director Stephen Lukudu at the event
South Sudan has an estimated population of 12.34 million people. With 75% of its people not having access to health services, South Sudan has the world’s highest mortality rate. The country holds an under-5 mortality of 135 out of every 1000 births.
It is in this regard that AAH-I South Sudan is implementing three health projects focusing on the improvement of access and quality of health services in order to strengthen the country’s health systems. The projects pay particular attention to mothers, children and infrastructure development.
MSNW is funded by Bread for the World. To date, a total of 947 students have graduated from the school. The school’s current intake is 92 students for both Nursing and Midwifery programmes.
Midwifery granduand Deborah Nyibol expressed her heartfelt appreciation and motivation on behalf of her fellow colleagues “Maternal and infant mortality are one of the main health challenges that need to be addressed in South Sudan. We are all thankful to AAH for implementing in us the requisite skills that will enable us to combine forces in order to provide quality health care for our community”
Hon. Africano Mande extended his gratitude to AAH-I for its long service and devoted commitment to South Sudan.
The South Sudan country programme is the largest of AAH-I’s six country programmes implementing projects in basic services (health, education, water, sanitation and health), food and income security and humanitarian relief and recovery.